Miniflora rose plant named &#39;benseis&#39;

ABSTRACT

This new rose plant is of a medium size and upright growing habit. It bears hybrid tea-form flowers of great substance, primarily one to a stem. The flowers last very well on the plant making it an excellent decoration for the garden.

GENUS AND SPECIES

Rosa hybrida

VARIETAL DENOMINATION

‘BENseis’

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a new and distinct variety of hardy, bush-type rose plant of the miniflora class. This new variety is from a single seedling originated by Frank A. Benardella under controlled conditions in a greenhouse in Millstone Township (formerly Englishtown), N.J., by crossing the following two rose plants:

-   -   The seed parent is a miniflora rose, unnamed and unintroduced,         developed in this same breeding program by crossing an unnamed         and unintroduced 1994 seedling of this program by ‘JACecond’         (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 11,369).     -   The pollen parent is a miniature rose, unnamed and unintroduced,         developed in this same breeding program, by crossing an unnamed         and unintroduced 1990 seedling of this program by ‘BENmagic’         (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 8,603).

The primary goal of this breeding program was to produce unique, diminutive roses with award winning, hybrid tea form on plants having favorable attributes that will increase public appeal. To achieve this goal roses are selected for this hybridizing program primarily for their potentially award winning, hybrid tea form. Pertaining to this particular cross, both parents were seedlings noted to have hybrid tea form flowers.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a new and distinct variety of vigorous, bush-type rose plant of the miniflora class. It is primarily characterized by vivid coral to red-orange flowers, having hybrid tea form, and borne on an upright bush growing two to three feet tall.

Though the new invention and its parents all have hybrid tea form flowers, they may be easily differentiated. This present plant has orange tones not noted in either parent.

The present plant may be compared with ‘BENocho’ (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 20,978) developed in this same breeding program and which is a direct descendant of ‘JACecond’, a grandparent of this new cultivar. Both cultivars have similar petal counts and those petals have similar form. Flowers of both are borne primarily singly on plants of upright habit. The most notable differences are the new invention has an orange tone in its flowers compared to the dark red and white bi-color flowers of ‘BENocho’, and the flowers of the current plant open slower and last considerably longer on the plant.

The field of comparison with other roses is greatly reduced by the unique coral color of its flowers. The new invention is further characterized by:

-   -   An abundance of flowers that are primarily borne singly;     -   Flowers that are slow to open;     -   Flowers lasting a month or longer on the plant;     -   Very slight to no fragrance;     -   An uniformly and well-branched plant;     -   Dark green, semi-glossy foliage;     -   Suitability for production from softwood cuttings in pots;     -   A plant that grows and blooms satisfactorily both in the         greenhouse and outdoors and providing decoration in the garden         as a perennial, in low borders or in large containers

Asexual reproduction by cuttings of this new cultivar in Millstone Township, N.J., and Arroyo Grande, Calif., show that all distinguishing characteristics of this rose continually come true to form.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING

The accompanying drawing consists of five separate numbered photographs depicting different parts of this current plant. Arranged counter clockwise from the top left corner of the page:

-   -   1) buds and flowers of this new cultivar as grown under plastic         in Arroyo Grande, Calif. (about ⅔ scale)     -   2) a young plant as grown under lights with one opening bud         (about ¼ scale)     -   3) profile view of an open bloom as grown in a greenhouse in         Millstone Township, N.J. (about ⅔ scale)     -   4) a smaller scale image showing the coloring of the adaxial         surfaces of the foliage     -   5) view of the branching habit showing stems, foliage and         prickles of the current plant (about ½ scale)         Color is as nearly correct as is possible to make in color         illustrations of this character.

BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION OF THE PLANT

The following observations, measurements, values and comparisons, in outline format, are from young plants (about 10 months old) of Rosa hybrida, ‘BENseis’. These plants were initially grown in a plastic covered greenhouse in Arroyo Grande, Calif. for 7 to 9 months before they were shipped to Ipswich, Mass., where they were grown under florescent lighting. Upon arriving in Ipswich, they were fertilized with every watering with a 15-30-15 solution. All major color plate identifications made are referring to The Royal Horticulture Society Colour Chart except where common terms of color definition are employed. Phenotypic expression may vary with environmental, cultural and climatic conditions.

-   Flowers:     -   -   Blooming habit.—primarily singly on strong stems; new shoots             originate from nodes below the fading flower, allowing that             cane to rebloom every 4 to 5 weeks; flowers remain fresh on             the plant 4 weeks or more, allowing the mature plant to             appear constantly in bloom.         -   Bud.—Form — ovate with an obtuse base and acute apex Size —             diameter averaged ½ inch, varying from 15/32 to 17/32 inch             Length varied from 23/32 to 31/32 inch.         -   Sepals.—Observed flowers had five sepals, permanently             attached to the receptacle, opening ahead of the petals,             reflexing to perpendicular to the receptacle; as the petals             began to open, sepals continued to reflex to the peduncle.             Form — lanceolate; apices were acuminate and somewhat             recurved, varying in intensity on each flower Surface             Texture — outer surfaces: matte to semi-glossy and peppered             with stipitate glands.         -   Inner surfaces.—covered with a fine pubescence. Color —             outer surface: dark yellow-green, between 146A and 146B;             deeper green, between 131A and 137A, at and toward the             apices and/or through the middle, wherever lighting was most             intense; near 146C where lighting was less intense and where             the sepals overlap; flushed with near 187A toward and at the             apices and other areas where lighting was most intense.         -   Inside surfaces.—a light and muted yellow-green, between             195A and 147C. Size — extended beyond the tip of the bud by             31/32 inch before sepals divided; Widths varied from 9/32 to             ½ inch Lengths varied from 21/32 to 30/32 inch on newly             opening flowers and 1 6/32 to 1 14/32 inch one week later.             Inner sepals generally tended to be somewhat longer than             outer sepals. Margins — on outer sepals appeared glabrous             with 1 to 3 foliar appendages along each margin, most often             with 2 Inner sepals had no foliar appendages and finely             pubescent margins.         -   Receptacle.—Form — cuneate Size — 11/32 inch tall as the             flower first opens to 15/32 inch tall with full open bloom             Diameter — 7/32 to 11/32 inch at the top, tapered downward             to 5/32 or 6/32 inch Surface/Texture — glabrous and glossy             Color — light yellow-green, between 145C and 142D.         -   Peduncle.—lengths varied from 1 1/16 to 2½ inches Diameter —             5/32 to 6/32 inch where it connected to the receptacle,             tapering quickly to 4/32 or 5/32 inch, then tapering             gradually to 3/32 inch where it connects to the stem             Strength — strong Surface — glands and stipitate glands,             vary from flower to flower in quantity from few to very             many, and lengths vary from glands flat on the surface to             stipitate glands up to ⅜ inch long Color — between 146A and             138B, flushed with near 177A.         -   Blooms.—Form — high centered with a convex upper profile;             the lower profile became flattened convex; minimal reflex of             petals increased somewhat as flowers opened Size — Diameter             of full open bloom varied from 3⅛ inches down to 2½ inches             Depths varied from 1⅜ inches to 1 inch, with 1 inch being             the most common depth Petalage — the plants observed had 15             to 33 petals and 1 to 3 petaloids Lasting time on plant —             blooms were slow to open and lasted up to 4 weeks before             beginning to fade; 6 to 7 weeks until all petals had dropped             Fragrance — very slight.         -   Petals.—imbricated Substance — very good Thickness —             moderately thick Surfaces — Inside surfaces, velvety Outer             surfaces satiny, becoming leathery as the flower matured             Appearance — veins became increasingly raised somewhat on             both surfaces as the flower matured Form — outer petals,             very broadly rounded Inner petals, near oblate Margins —             rounded with an acute apex and a pronounced notch on either             side of the apex Bases — outer petals, obtuse Inner petals,             cuneate and often uneven, having one side somewhat longer             than the other Color — flowers appeared red as the blooms             began to open and became coral as the flowers matured When             the sepals first divided, the color was a dark red, near 45A             During the first few days, adaxial surfaces were Vermillion             Red, near 41A to a Scarlet Red, near 43A. Basal areas were             near 2D. The two outermost petals had a pure white streak             from the point of attachment, sometimes extending just             beyond the basal area and sometimes extending upward for             three-fourths of the petal, occasionally branching out a bit             from one-fourth of the way up. The reverse of the petals was             near 45C, suffused with between 51A and 53C from the center             of the petals outward in all directions. Basal area was             white, near 158D; point of attachment was a very pale             yellow-green, near 146C. Veins in the basal area only were             between 146B and 146C. Full-blown, adaxial surfaces of the             outer petals were between 43A and 44B. Basal areas were             white, near 155D, suffused with near 150D. Point of             attachment was near 150D. The reverse was near 52A and 50A             towards the margins. Basal area was near 4D, with veins in             the basal area near 146A. Point of attachment was near 145C.             Differences on the intermediate and inner petals were the             reverse being nearer 54A and having occasional streaks of             near 149C. Adaxial surfaces of the inner petals were near             43C and near 52B along the margins. As blooms continued to             age, petal surfaces became between 41B and 43B, areas along             the margins became near 52C. Reverse of the inner petals             became near 54A. At full fade adaxial surfaces were near             43C, suffused with near 66B.         -   Petaloids.—Texture: same as petals Size — up to ½ inch wide             and up to 4/8 inch long Color — same as inner petals; often             a pure white along one margin with a sterile anther attached             to that margin Unique characteristics — sometimes attached             by a long filament. -   Reproductive organs:     -   -   Stamens, filaments and anthers.—Arrangement — regularly             arranged around styles Quantity — 125 to 130 Filaments —             length, 7/32 to 18/32 inch in full open flower, lengths             varying greatly within each flower General color — 53B when             young Anthers — Egyptian Buff, near 19D Pollen — Nasturtium             Orange, near 25B.         -   Pistils, styles and stigmas.—Quantity — about ½ to ⅔ as many             as stamens Styles — thin and quite undulate Length — 4/32 to             9/32 inch from the top of the receptacle Color — Turkey Red,             near 46C Stigmas — near 159A, from the Orange-White Group.         -   Hips.—none observed. -   Plant:     -   -   Habit.—Upright; well branched; flowers held well above plant             Growth: Vigorous; uniform branching Height — 24 to 36 inches             Root initiation from cuttings — 3 to 5 days in a controlled             greenhouse environment.         -   Foliage.—pinnately compound, usually with 5 leaflets, but             occasionally with 3 and rarely with 6 or 7 leaflets Size of             mature leaf: 4 to 5¼ inches Leaflets: Shape — ovate with an             acute apex and oval base, with the exception that the base             of the terminal leaflet tapered to the point of attachment             Size terminal leaflet — 2 to 2⅜ inches long and 1¼ to 1 ⅜             inches wide Appearance — Upper surface semi-glossy; main             vein recessed Reverse, matte; main vein entirely protruding             Texture — glabrous upper surface; leathery reverse Serration             — simple Color young foliage — Upper surface dark green near             136A, heavily flushed with deep Greyed-Purple near 187A             Reverse near 187B; main vein lighter, near 185A Color mature             foliage — anthocyanin coloring, absent Upper surface             lightened somewhat and took on a bit of yellow tone, near             137A to between 137A and 139A Reverse, dark yellow green             near 147B         -   Petiole/rachis/petiolules.—Basal leaflets were often not             attached directly opposite each other along the             petiole/rachis. When the basal leaflets were not attached             directly opposite, there was a difference of 3/32 inch from             one side of the petiole to the other. The length of the             petiole varied from 1 inch to 1 3/16 inch. Likewise, each             side of the rachis could be a different length, varying             between 28/32 and 1 1/32 inch on a five-leaflet leaf Color             on young foliage — the adaxial surface had a moderate flush             of a medium Greyed-Purple, near 183A, and a medium             yellow-green, and between the stipules near 146C Reverse,             medium Greyed-Purple, near 187D; near 146D between stipules             Color on mature foliage — ridges of the adaxial surfaces of             the petioles were dark green, between 137A and 137B; color             in the groove, a light yellow-green near 145C Abaxial             surfaces were between 145C and 145B Color along ridges of             the rachis and petiolules was the same dark green as the             leaflet surface, with near 138B in the groove, and near 145A             on the abaxial surface.         -   Stipules.—length varied from 6/32 to 13/32 inch attached and             3/32 to 5/32 inch angled outward at about a 45° angle to the             petiole. Stipules within a pair were not always the same             length, varying by 1/32 inch. Margins — somewhat sinuate;             lined with stipitate glands Edges — usually lay flat Color —             a medium yellow-green near 146C on the adaxial surface on             the mature leaf, near 145C along the petiole, and near 137A             on the tips that were angled outward Abaxial surface was             near 145A.         -   Wood.—Color of New growth — medium green between 137C and             147B, heavily flushed with near 187A Color old wood —             yellow-green, near 146A Size — Main stems had a diameter of             ¼ to 10/32 inch; Diameter primary laterals, 6/32 to 5/32             inch; Diameter secondary laterals, 5/32 inch Flowering             stems, diameter of 5/32 inch at the base, tapering to 3/32             inch, Length varied from 1 15/16 to 13½ inches, to the base             of the peduncle Texture — Main canes, coarse as a result of             lenticels, otherwise glabrous Primary laterals, glabrous             Secondary laterals were mostly glabrous, having a few             prickles Flowering stems were glabrous from the top             downward; varying amounts of prickles formed from the base             upward Lenticels — formed within the first year, near the             base of the main canes and at the nodes with the primary             laterals Color — a grayed-brown, between 197A and 177D.         -   Prickles.—Form — upper profile, angled downward; lower             profile, arcuate; the base was oval Quantity — main canes,             no prickles Primary laterals, an occasional single prickle             Secondary laterals, three to four prickles between each             node, regardless of the distance between nodes Flowering             stems, heaviest near the base, with 3 to 8 between nodes;             the upper portion of the flowering stems usually have no             prickles Size — 5/32 inch long on primary laterals; about             11/32 inch long on secondary laterals; about 7/32 inch long             on flowering stems Color when young — very dark red-purple,             between 183B and 59B, becoming near 174C, a medium shade             from the Greyed-Orange Group, at the tip Color when old —             near 177C from the Greyed-Orange Group.         -   Resistance.—good resistance to blackspot and downy mildew;             moderately susceptible to powdery mildew; no rust observed. 

1. A new and distinct variety of rose plant is claimed, substantially as described and illustrated herein. 